Who impressed: MXGP class Matterley Basin

Jeffrey Herlings: You have a to start with the man of the moment. What a performance from Jeffrey Herlings, especially in that second moto. To do fastest lap after fastest lap at the end of the race, then pass Cairoli and do the fastest lap of the day to win the race so Cairoli didn’t get the chance for revenge from moto one was one of the most impressive races of Herlings career. There is no doubt he is the fastest man on the planet and he is beating Cairoli when the Italian is still at the very top of his game. The kid is simply phenomenal and is closing in fast on Everts 101 record GP wins.

Tony Cairoli: Despite not winning either moto, Cairoli was brilliant at a Matterley. He made Herlings work harder than he has since Argentina and if he hadn’t made that small mistake near the end of moto one, Herlings might never have had the chance to put him down.

Cairoli showed his fitness is right there now to sprint for a full 30 minutes. You get the feeling Cairoli has planned to come on strong mid-season in the hope Herlings can’t sustain the pace he has had in the first half of the year. Whether the plan will work remains to be seen but Cairoli will be more motivated than ever going into France and the Red Bull KTM duo will no doubt keep bringing the heat and the incredible pace week-in, week-out barring injury. What a great time to watch MXGP as two of the all time greats go at it every weekend!

Cairoli Pic: Ray Archer

Romain Febvre: Finally the Frenchman got a podium! After just missing out on the box for a number of GPs, Febvre got what he deserved in the end. Despite battling a couple of injuries Febvre fought hard all day and bested Desalle and Gajser for third overall in what was an entertaining battle all day. Febvre can now come into his home GP this weekend on a high and might be even better with an extra week of healing and more confidence.

Febvre. Pic: YS

Febvre commented: “It was a really tough weekend, but I am happy to be back on the podium. I got injured in Latvia after I connected with another rider but still, I was almost on the podium in Germany but I crashed again and hurt my foot pretty bad. Last week was not good, I saw many doctors and they suggested that I take four weeks out, but I wanted to at least try and score some points and now I am on the podium. I can’t thank everyone who supports me enough, especially the guys at Yamaha, the physiotherapist and everyone, without them I would probably not have been able to race let alone stand on the podium.”

Searle was back on form at the British GP. Pic: YS

Tommy Searle: Searle looked in good form entering the season but a broken collarbone at Valkenswaard threatened to wreck another big bike campaign in Mastterly he showed what he can really do. A top ten after missing most of the first half of the campaign in impressive and should hopefully set Searle up for more of the same as he hits the second half of the season healthy and confident.

Graeme Irwin: The results don’t show it but Graeme Irwin, back after missing two rounds to third degree burns, arguably had the best race of his career after running in 13th until the last five minutes of the first moto. His lack of race time over the last month prevented what would have been the best result of his career but the enforced break seems to have rejuvenated Irwin mentally and he got to show the speed he has on a track he had some experience on.